Last week a close family member had a terrible accident. God spared his life in spite of many serious injuries. The weight of his condition has been heavy on all of us, especially his mom and sisters. Something his mom said caused me to evaluate my own thinking. She told us how the negative talk of a certain person close to the situation has negative power and she wished he would watch what he says. She mentioned that she aims to think and speak positively, unleashing power for good and healing.

I began to think about what God says about this.  For those who love God, the most positive thinking is faith. We believe that God is in control and that he loves us. Those who believe in Jesus and want to obey him have so many precious promises from him that give us a positive outlook. Christians have no reason to be negative! Yet, due to our human frailties, some of us are prone to negativity. (Hand raised over here.) My so-called practical side says, ‘You can’t be positive all the time. You have to be realistic and recognize the bad/hard things, too.’ But here is what I’m discovering: Faith never denies the hard. It rises above it. By faith we can say, ’Things are looking very bad to me. But because I know you, Lord, are in charge, I choose to trust that are doing the best thing for all of us. Thank you that nothing can thwart your purposes. And your purposes are good. You intend even the bad to become good for your people. And we will enjoy your good for all eternity.’

So I’m choosing to fill my thinking with precious promises. One of them is that Jesus is kindly caring for me because I am part of him. The New Testament teaches that those who love and obey Jesus are part of him and he is part of them. This relationship is compared to the head and the body.  We are wired to look out for our bodies. We feed them, we take care of them when they’re sick or injured. (Even those who are misguided in what is best, do what they think is best for themselves. Those who commit suicide do so thinking it is the best thing for them. Addicts are providing for the cravings of their bodies.)

Jesus is our head, giving us commands that help us, just as the brain tells the heart to beat and the lungs to expand and contract. He uses us as his body through which he acts in the world. We are his hands and feet to help others. Jesus is looking out for his body, caring for it because it is part of himself. What touches us, touches him. That is why Jesus, already ascended back to Heaven could appear in a vision to a man bent on rounding up and jailing Christians, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  Being part of Jesus is our comfort and should drive away our fears. We are cared for!

When Jesus was on earth, he was constantly caring for people. He helped the sick, the sad, and the suffering. He still is! And now from Heaven, he is even better able to help all who call on him from all over the world.
“Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” So Jesus went with him. . . some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”
Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Mark 5: 22-24, 35-36

When we get bad news, our human response is to fear. We picture all the negative possibilities. BTW, here is an idea I read somewhere that has helped me: fear relates to the future. We’re afraid something bad is about to happen. But we can’t live in the future, it isn’t reality. We are only imagining what could happen. We don’t actually know what will happen.  We must live in this minute, putting our minds on the real promises of God by faith. He is with us in this minute and will be with us tomorrow. We know Jesus cares for the sick, the sad, and the suffering. He is aware of our situation. He is working things out for our good. He is kind and gentle.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” The Lord gave this command to Joshua in Deuteronomy 31:6 and quoted in Hebrews 13:5

“The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?” Psalm 118:6 quoted in Hebrews 13:6

“I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.” Romans 8:28

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